Author Topic: Gunsight History (Read 925 times)

Adogg · « **on:** July 29, 2004, 01:55:18 PM »

Reflector gunsights...

what was their advantage over iron sights?

How did they work?

Best,

Raptor · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2004, 02:03:06 PM »

with iron sights ya gotta make sure your lined up. And dont mirror sights act like sunglasses and keep a little sunlight out?

Crumpp · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2004, 10:42:26 PM »

Reflector sights still had to lined up. They elminated head positional error because the pilot could not see the sight unless his head was in proper firing position. Iron sights allowed the shooter to fall victim to improper sight alignment. If his head was off to one side or the other the gun solution would be destroyed.

Both the USAAF, RAF, and the Luftwaffe developed gyroscopic or "predictor" gunsights. They both were very similar in function. Niether one worked well at all if you pulled any G's.

http://www.429sqn.ca/acmgs.htm

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/8217/fgun/fgun-th.html

That information about the Luftwaffe's ez42 gyroscopic gunsight not working as well is inaccurate. Pips Priller of JG26 tested the sight and concluded that the technology was it's infancy and needed work. He did not feel the "new growth" of Luftwaffe pilots would be able to handle waiting until the A/C was not under G's to shoot.

Crumpp

GScholz · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2004, 11:15:17 PM »

The main advantage of a reflector sight is the ability to focus on the target while still seeing the sight in focus. Whatever distance the pilot focuses on the sight appears at the same distance. Modern HUDs are essentially reflector sights with the added ability to display information, and now we also have reflector sights on handguns called red-dot sights.

Tony Williams · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:10:33 AM »

There was an intermediate stage between iron and reflector sights - the Aldis tube. This was in effect a telescopic sight which didn't magnify - but when the pilot looked through it he saw a ring or similar aiming mark superimposed on the target, with both being in focus. It became the standard British fighter sight by the end of WW1, and was used by the Germans when they cold capture them.

A reflector sight essentially does the same job, but it's much more compact.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

MiloMorai · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:26:45 AM »

In the Classic series on the 262, the EZ42 is mentioned. It notes that the lead computing function was disabled because of problems. Most 262 pilots were not rookies. The Feb 45 attack on Dresden destroyed the Ziess(sp??) factory that was making a vital part for the EZ42 stopping production of the sight.

Crumpp · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2004, 07:57:04 AM »

Milo,

All the leading gyroscopic gunsight's developed during World War II had the same problem. Pulling G's would mess up the sollution.

Crumpp

MiloMorai · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2004, 08:09:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Crumpp
Milo,

All the leading gyroscopic gunsight's developed during World War II had the same problem. Pulling G's would mess up the sollution.

Crumpp

Nothing to do with pulling Gs.

GScholz · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2004, 12:37:04 PM »

Yes Milo, it was.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2004, 02:03:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
Yes Milo, it was.

NO lapdog., not in the 262

GScholz · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:52:34 PM »

Yes MiloMoron, it was.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2004, 04:10:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
Yes MiloMoron, it was.

LOL, Col Klink's lap dog yapping again.

see Vol 2 of the 262 series.

GScholz · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2004, 05:13:13 PM »

Oh the "The man on TV said so!" argument.

Xjazz · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2004, 05:33:15 PM »

If I remeber it right now, the K14 gyrogunsight demand a constant G pull for a moment (~5secs?) to give accurate impactpoint (in certain range?).

Any suddend G changes during targeting time and a new targeting procedure from the begining was needed.

BTW the pilot need to give (dial in) the target wing lenght (109, 110, 190 etc) before aiming procedure.

Maybe I remember it wrong. Need to re-find those K14 links.

Crumpp · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2004, 05:39:09 PM »

Your correct xjazz. I just like watchin Milo make an A** out of himself.

Crumpp